Arranmore Island Wedding

Congratulations to Crona Regan and Danny Rodgers whose Arranmore Island Wedding took place on the 18th July 2015.When Crona and Danny first came to see me to talk about their wedding which was to be a Marquee wedding on Arranmore Island I was really excited about it as I had never been out to the Island (I know its shameful for a proud Donegal man to admit that) There is nothing I like more than the wild coastline that we have in Donegal and Arranmore happens to have the mother and father of all wild coastlines so what’s not to look forward to eh!! If you follow my blog posts you will have noticed that my last blog was on Ann and Denis’s wedding in Gweedore and it took place the day before Corona and Danny’s wedding. The first few paragraphs of Ann’s wedding blog were dedicated to the storm – yes STORM – that blew its hardest day and night. I stayed the night in the beautiful Viking House hotel in Kincasslagh as going home made no sense. That night the wind howled and shook the windows and I had terrible visions of the Ferry being cancelled in the morning and me not getting out to Arranmore.Worse still I had visions of the Marquee – which was set up on the football field with nothing to shelter it and nothing but the vast Atlantic at its back – lifting off and by the time of the wedding it could be stuck in a tree somewhere in Glasgow!

When my alarm went off I made a few tentative steps to the window and after a few rapid signs of the cross and a few mumblings of “Please Jesus” I pulled the curtains to be greeted by – BLUE SKY – (rub the eyes and look again x5). It is times like this when I think of Gerry Murphy and Jean Byrne and feel sorry for them trying to predict what our crazy weather is going to do as it changes so much in no time at all. This change was good so time for the ferry. The journey across to Arranmore was a very pleasant one and I was so glad to be able to sit on the open top deck and take a few photos of the Island as it came into view. My first stop on Arranmore was the soccer pitch where (fingers crossed) the marquee was to be set up. To my delight the marquee was up and looked great. I met Danny who was putting some finishing touches to the set-up and he told me that there were a few times the day before he felt the whole thing was going to lift off and never be seen again! Inside the marquee I got some photos of the details that decorated the space and was amazed by the amount of work that had obviously gone on – Crona’s mum Mary had made all the Seanfhocail table names and also the wedding cake and her dad Martin hand made all the centrepieces and the little footstools that made a pathway into the marquee.

From the marquee we made our way up to Crona’s home where she was getting ready along with her bridesmaids Áine, Deirdre, Caroline and Crona. The girls were all in top form and had a few glasses of champagne to rid any nerves although none where visible. We got some great photos of the girls having a laugh out on the decking in the sunshine and they made sure to wave at every ferry that landed in the harbour below as the wedding guests were starting to arrive for the main event. Leaving Crona and the girls we made our way to St. Crones Chapel where we met with Danny and his grooms-men John, Michael, Thomas and Noel who where busy meeting and greeting the guests. St Crone’s Chapel is in a lovely setting right on the beach – you could literally go to mass and dive in for a swim straight afterwards. During the ceremony a red setter came bounding in the door, made two laps of the altar one lap of Danny and Crona before making good his escape – he raised a great laugh from everyone. After the ceremony we made a trip to the lighthouse to get some photos with Danny and Crona and what a special place it is. The cliffs rival those of Sliabh League and you can just walk right up to the very edge and peer down to the crashing Atlantic waves below – not a place for anyone with vertigo! I really wish I had locations like that every week, it was breathtaking. Just as we were finishing up the gathering clouds opened up and the rain started to fall – and it was on for the evening. Back at the soccer pitch it seemed that the whole Island had turned up and were inside the marquee enjoying the fine food and beverages on offer. The last ferry to the mainland was leaving the harbour at 11pm and myself and Sinead had to leave the party which was in full swing thanks to the David Craig band to be on it. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Crona and Danny for allowing me be part of their very special day and wish them the very best of everything for the future, below are some of the images from their amazing Arranmore Island Wedding….enjoy…..

Below are some of the other wedding vendors who helped Crona and Danny make their day so special

To view a Fusion Slideshow of Crona and Danny’s beautiful Arranmore Island Wedding please click PLAY below

If you would like to book Fergal Mc Grath Photography for you own Arranmore Island Wedding please use the contact me page of this website to get in touch.

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